Guidelines established for disabled veterans real property tax relief program
March 17, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Norfolk Commissioner of Revenue Sharon McDonald has begun notifying veterans and veterans groups that guidelines have been established that disabled veterans will have to follow to apply for property tax relief on their homes. McDonald’s office will administer the program.
During its last session, the Virginia General Assembly codified a constitutional amendment approved by voters in November 2010 to give veterans who are 100 percent permanently and totally disabled as a result of their service to apply for 100 percent tax relief, regardless of their income. The bill will become law when Governor McDonnell signs the legislation.
In addition, the legislation stipulates that if the veteran died on or after January 1, 2011, his or her spouse may become eligible for relief as long as he or she remains in the house.
McDonald’s goal is to begin accepting applications for relief the day the legislation becomes law.
According to McDonald’s letter to the veterans groups, veterans are required to provide the designated authorized notification from Department of Veterans Affairs.
“The application process can not begin without this document”, McDonald said.
Eligible veterans must also provide:
- Original letter of disability issued by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs
- Photo Identification
- Proof of residency occupancy (bank statement or phone bill)
In order to apply, the surviving spouse must provide:
- Original letter of disability from the Dept. of Veterans Affairs
- Death certificate
- A certified certificate of marriage
- Proof of residency occupancy
McDonald’s office said that 429 veterans in Norfolk are eligible to apply for the program. You may reach the commissioner of revenue at http://www.norfolk.gov/Revenue/
